"Video Shop"

12 June 2026

69s

Video nasties.

If we accept that it's parents who have to hear the message about the toxicity of smartphones rather than their children, and we should, then this is an excellent approach from director David Dearlove., who also wrote the script. By placing the videos that are routinely watched by under 16s into the context of a DVD store, he highlights the absurdity of allowing out children to watch such material.

Getting the tone was right was pivotal because this would actually be a pretty funny comedy sketch if it was played for laughs, but satire is a form of messaging that uses the tropes of comedy to land a serious message and this is a masterclass of its deployment. You are left, as you should be, feeling pretty uneasy about the availability of obviously harmful content, and many will feel more inclined to do something about it.

UK

Charities